On Friday, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the establishment of an advanced practice specialty Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) certificate program through the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing.
The program aims to alleviate the critical shortage of emergency care providers throughout the state, with a particular focus on underserved areas such as rural Nebraska.
The ENP certificate is structured to equip nurse practitioners (NP) working in emergency care settings with advanced knowledge and skills essential for delivering safe, competent and high-quality emergency care across the lifespan.
This hybrid program combines online learning with in-person intensive training sessions, spanning 12 months and 16 credits. The inaugural class is scheduled to begin in Spring 2026.
“This innovative program will enhance health care delivery statewide and establish UNMC as a leader in advanced emergency nursing education,” said UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD. “I want to commend Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, DNP, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, and her team for their leadership in bringing this much-needed program to fruition, as it will be a great benefit to all of Nebraska. Many Nebraska critical access hospitals are short of emergency health providers, and this program will serve as an invaluable resource for them.”
Jane Meza, PhD, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs, also called the new program innovative, noting it “will fill a critical gap in emergency health care services.”
Dr. Sharp-McHenry said that a comprehensive needs assessment completed by the college in 2024 confirmed strong support for an enhanced, emergency-trained workforce among rural and underserved health care facilities. 22 of 23 facilities surveyed expressed a willingness to provide scholarships, tuition assistance, pay increases, retention bonuses, or employment opportunities for NPs who successfully complete such a program.
The assessment also demonstrated strong enthusiasm for this specialized training among both nurse practitioner students and currently practicing NPs.
“This overwhelming demand highlights the critical need for specialized training in emergency care to meet the evolving needs of Nebraska’s health care system, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” Dr. Sharp-McHenry said.
The workforce outlook for ENPs is increasingly strong as demand for high-quality, patient-centered emergency care continues to rise. Between 2019 and 2022, the number of NPs working in emergency settings grew by more than 50%, to approximately 27,000, according to figures from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. This growth trend is expected to continue, with an estimated annual increase of 8% through 2030. ENPs are uniquely positioned to address critical care gaps across various health care settings, particularly in underserved areas where access to emergency services remains limited.
Moreover, Dr. Sharp-McHenry said, the UNMC program has been designed to support the University of Nebraska’s long-term strategy: “This commitment will ensure that our graduates reflect the communities they serve and are prepared to deliver culturally competent care,” she said.
The ENP certificate program will be administered from the UNMC West Nebraska Division in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. In-person training will be conducted at the Davis Global Center, a cutting-edge simulation facility offering innovative, immersive learning experiences, on UNMC’s Omaha campus. The Health Science Education Center II in Kearney also will serve as a simulation and training site upon its final completion in 2026.
Haley Hays, DNP, interim assistant dean of the UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division, has been named program director.
The ENP certificate program was partially supported by a Women Investing in Nebraska grant in October 2024. The program plans to admit 10 students in its first year and gradually increase the number to 30 students per year using twice-a-year admission.
The program will seek validation through the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners (AAENP), enabling graduates of the certificate program to be eligible for national board certification as an ENP. Currently, there are only 16 validated ENP programs in the United States, with the nearest located at the University of Northern Colorado.
The certificate program is subject to approval by the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education.